Means for marking the side boundaries of roads



Oct. 19, 1937, P. c. DOYLE MEANS FOR MARKING THE SIDE BOUNDARIES OF ROADS Filed March 2, 1956 6) ATTo wfr g Patented Oct. 19, 1937 PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR. MARKING THE SIDE BOUND- -ARIES 0F ROADS Philip 0. Doyle, Lakewood, Ohio Application March 2, 1936, Serial No. 66,617

4 Claims.

Highway accidents such as occasioned by automobiles running off the road ontoa soft shoulder or into a ditch, etc., could be generally safeguarded against if the edge of the road was always plain to drivers. The installation of elaborate guards, cables, etc., is precluded except at special points on account of the cost, and simple markingsuch as white stones at the edge or white paint, is soon obscured by dirt or by snow, and all of such markings are not readily seen at night even under favorable conditions. In accordance with the present invention however, the edge of the road may be clearly marked in day or night conditions, winter or summer, and without obstruction or'undue cost.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out -in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention installed along the edge of the road; Fig. 2, is a front elevational view on a large scale, showing structure embodying the invention; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail; and Fig. 5 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of a modification.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there lsshown a road It along the edge of which is a series of edge-markers M. These are located close "to the surface provided for travel, and are spaced along at convenient intervals as desired, depending somewhat upon the particular condition and extent of deviation from a straight line. In general, the devices individually, involve a sight-attracting portion 2, a ground anchor 3, and an intervening re-coil or re-setting support. The precise detail may vary somewhat. Conveniently, the sight-attracting portion 2 may be in a sort of target-form, and where desired may carry some mark visible in day light, as for instance a cross, a letter, etc. For night visibility,

light-reflectors 5 are provided, these being secured to the member 2 and being of glass with reflecting surface or surfaces of such detail character as may be desired, the precise construction allowing of variation, while coming within the requirements of suitable light-reflecting action.

.Such reflectors also may, where desired, be in colors, red, etc., and the entire member 2 may if desiredbe in colors, althoughlordinarily white or aluminum finish is particularly desirable. The ground anchor 3 may desirably take a form capable of being easily driven or set into the ground, and in the particular form illustrated in Fig. 2, is a spear-like blade 3, adapted to be driven into position, and stand firmly. From the blade 3 projects an up-standing stem or shank 1, preferably integral, and to this shank the target support may be attached. In the particular form shown in Fig. 2, this involves a tubular section 8 adapted to seat over the stem 1 and be fastened thereto by suitable fastening, a set screw, or for instance a cotter pin taken through aligned holes in the tube 8 and stem. The upper end of the tube 8 is desirably closed over, as at I0, or it may be an integral part thereof as long as the upper end is rigid with the sleeve portion 8, and fastened suitably thereto is a spring I I, preferably a heavy coil spring, whose upper end is fastened in turn to the target member 2. The spring ll may be fastened to the top of tubular section 8 preferably by soldering the same thereto.

As seen, in the installation of these devices, the ground anchor 3 is set in place, and the target and support assembly is positioned to the ground anchor, the tubular portion 8 seating over the shank or stem 1 thereof, and being pinned or otherwise suitably fastened. Such devices are preferably of a height such as to merely give good visibility, for example about sixteen inches being a desirable height, and even though there may be snow fall of ordinary character, the targets will still be visible. In the event that an automobile should swerve out of line and strike such target, by reason of the yielding support the device will merely be pushed down, and after the machine has passed over it will immediately straighten up again.

In respect to detail, the structure of the target may vary, while preserving the characteristic of a sight-attracting object. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the target 2a may be of generally rectangular form and provided with light-reflecting elements 5. Within the characteristic of the yieldable resetting support also, detailvariation may take somewhat difierent forms. For instance, as also illustrated in Fig. 5, the recoilsupport may be of tubular sections Ha such as of metal, with a rubber core I lb extending therethrough, the whole being mounted on a suitable ground anchor 3a, and the resilient stem or support being such as to yield in the event of being struck, and then immediately straighten up to normal position.

Desirably, as a further refinement, the target 2 may have acasing portion l3 which may be secured by bolts l4, preferably of a character preventive of tampering, thereby forming a safeguard for light-reflecting elements which being of rather expensive character are advisably mounted in theft-proof manner. v

It is thus seen that the improved marking means is in general characterized by the advantages of self-resetting in the event of being run over, and the device in so far as projecting above the ground furthermore can be quickly and conveniently removed to permit road repairs, or the running of a snow plow in winter time or a mowing machine in the summer for the cutting of weeds, etc. I

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or

' the equivalent of such, be employed.

pin means therefor for fastening said tubular member to said shank, and a coil spring supporting said target and connecting it to said tubular member.

2. Means for marking the side boundaries of roads, comprising a sight-attracting target member, a spear blade anchor insertable into the,

' member and shank for fastening means, removable pin means therefor for fastening said tubular member to said stem, and resilient means connecting said target to said tubular member.

3. Means for marking the side boundaries of roads, comprising a sight-attracting target mem-' ber, a spear blade anchor insertable into the ground alongside the road .zone and having a short shank, a tubular member mountable on said shank, means for removably fastening said tubular member to said shank in a predetermined rotary position, and a spring supporting said target from said tubular member.

4. Means for marking the side boundaries of roads, comprising a sight-attracting target member, an anchor insertableinto the ground alongside the road zone and transversely extended to resist forward thrust, said anchor member having a short shank, a tubular member mountable on said shank, means for removably fastening said tubular member to said shank in a predetermined rotary position, and a spring connecting 

